Seal



R. H. WHITE Oct. 18, 1932.

S EAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29. 1930 INVENTOR BY Rea M7641:

R. H. WHITE Oct. 18, 1932.

SEAL

Filed May 29. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY m am ATTORNEY 40 i 4 showing a plurality of lower track roller Patented a. 1a, 1932 PATENT OFFICE norm a. warm, or canvamnn meme, omo

V t I Application filed Kay :9, 1930. Serial Io. use.

This invention relates to tractors, and more particularly to tractors of the tracklaying type.

Tractors ordinarily ground so that the jomts tween relatively moving elements thereof must be guarded against the entrance of dirt, sand and water because such materials either act 'as an abrasive or decrease the normal life of elements. The bearings of the lower track rollare are especially subjected to such undesirable element because of their roximity to the ground, and great difliculty as been experienced in sealingthe joint around the shaft between the track roller and the shaft bearin It is an object of this invention to provi e sealing means for the joint around the axles between the bearings and rollers of the lower.

track rollers of tracklaying tractors which will eliminate the ingress of water and abrasive substances. Another object of the invention is to provide a seal'structure for track rollers of a tracklaying tractor which will maintain a I leak-proof relation even though the roller sections become misaligned relative to the associated bearing. A further object of the invention is to provide a seal structure for the bearin of a lower track roller structurefor t'racklaymg tractors which is uniformly contacting in aclrcular relation around the shaft and the bearing to prevent the passage of foreign material into the bearin I Other 0%jects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the-drawin s, which form a part of the specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elcvational view of a portion of a track-laying tractor structures.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the seal pressure ring. y

1 Fig. 4 is an side elevational view of the pressure ring.

' Fig. 5 is aside elevational view of an element of the seaL.

0 rate upon the Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partialliin section, showing a roller. structure wit a modified form ofseal.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the roller structure showing a further modified form of seal.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Re erring to the drawings by characters of reference. 10 represents the *side frame of a so tracklaying tractor to the lower wall of which a plurality of rdller structuresare secured. Withthe exception of the sealing means, of which several modifications are shown, the structures are'similar so a descrip- 85 tion of one will suifice. y s

A two part bearing consisting of an u per section 11 and a lower section 12 carry a s aft 13 and are secured together and to the side frame by bolts 14; The bearing sections are formed to provide a circular chamber 15 into which a thrust flange 16 extending from the shaft is housed.- The bearing sections are formed at each side to provide circular rojecting extensions 17 through which the aft extends.-

Extending longitudinally in the side frame is a lubricant distributin conduit 18 having branch conduits 19 leading to passages 20 in the bearing which terminate in a reservoir 21. Openings 22 formed in the bearinfg3 establish communication between the she and the reservoir, such openings carrying vi'licg 23 through which oil travels to the s a a A roller 24 is pressed upon each projecting end of the shaft and nuts 25 are screwed upon reduced ends of the shaft to secure the rollers axially. The inner end of the bores through the rollers are enlarged for the recepti on of sealing means,- and also, so that the bearing extensions can be telescoped by the rollers. The inner face of the end of each bearing extension is chamfered, as indicated at 26, and a triangular steel disc 27 engages the unchamfered face of the bearing extensions. A circular gasket 28, preferably of U-shaped cross section, is associated with each triangular disc, the gaskets being arra ged with the open sides partially telescoping the discs. Seated in axially extending openings in the rollers are a plurality of coil springs 29 which en age rings 30 bearing against the gaskets, t e rings having spring I retaining pins 31 extending therefrom. The

10 tween the shaft and the roller.. The springs on an end of the shaft are equally spaced and will exert a pressure against the gaskets which will follow the position of the discs, even after the end faces of the bearing extensions become worn. The

' ll .discs being formed of steel, and the bearing extension of softer metal, the discs will maintain a circular seat or contact. The gaskets prevent outward leakage of oil and the ingress of foreign elements between the roller and shaft around the discs, while the spring pressure maintains the discs sealed against the bearing extension faces to prevent passage of foreign elements therebetween.

The sealing structure shown in Fig. 6 pre-- sents a modified form in which the end faces ofthe bearing extensions are flat, while the gaskets 32 are L-shaped and are'carried by the ring 33 which is bent to secure the gaskets therewith as a unitary structure. In this form, there is a single wall .of the gaskets wedged between the outer face of the discs and the rollers.

The sealing structure shown in Fig. 7 resents still another modified form in w ich solid gaskets 34 are pressed against the oint of the triangular discs. In all of the orms.

of sealing meansillustrated, the springs wedge the gaskets between the shaft and the inner roller walls, and against the discs.

Although this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications which will readily occur to persons skilled in the art, and

the invention is therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is i 1. In a tractor supporting structure having a fixed shaft carrying bearing and a roller fixed on'an end of the shaft and telescoping the end portion of the bearing, a sealing device at the end of the bearing and intermediate the roller and the shaft comprising a triangular metal disc surrounding the shaft and having one side engaging the end of the bearing, surrounding the means pressing the gasket between the disc and the roller.

' 2. In a tractor supporting structure having a fixed shaft carrying bearing and a roller and telescoping the adjacent end of the bearing, a sealing device at the end of the bearing and between the a waterproof flexible gasket shaft adjacent the disc, and

triangular one side engaging the end 

